African-American Genealogy

African-Americans, regardless of whether their ancestors were free or slave, are usually able to trace their ancestry back to the end of the Civil War without too much difficulty using the same sources white Americans use. Pre-Emancipation slaves were considered the personal property of their owners and are identified by the plantation records. Research then focuses upon the owner's family and the records it produced as slave owners, as well as on the slave family itself.

Searching for slave ancestors always requires a thorough investigation of the white slave-owning family in all public and historical records. The census records of 1870 are the first to list blacks by name. In 1850 & 1860 slave statistics were gathered, but did not list slaves by name, just tallied, and are useful as circumstantial evidence that a slave of a certain age and sex was the property of a particular owner. Free blacks and their families names were included in 1850 & 1860. Military records from Revolutionary War are available. Birth records are available as the slave owners need to protect his personal property by officially recording it. If you know the birthdate, you can search the birth records for a male or female slave born on that date and an owner/plantation name will be given.

Bills of sale will be found among land records, estate records or miscellaneous county records. Slave trade manifests are available at the National Archives, Washington, DC. Also write to the Registry of American Black Ancestry, Box 417, Salt Lake City, Ut 84110 .

Tip of the Month

Preserving Newspaper Articles: There is a home-style "bleaching" process that will help counteract the acid in the newspaper. It's the acid that causes the paper to yellow over time. When done correctly, the simple "bath" should keep your newspaper articles from turning that old, yellow color.
It is suppose to work for up to 50 years.
Make the magic solution by mixing two tablespoons of milk of magnesia with one quart of club soda. Then refrigerate it for eight hours. Next, pour the mixture in a shallow pan wide enough to hold the largest clipping. Lay one clipping at a time in the liquid and let it soak for an hour. When the time is up, remove the clipping and place it between several layers of paper towels to remove the excess moisture. Then dry on a clean flat surface, such as a piece of fiberglass screen (door/window screen) under the clipping so it will not stick.

Interesting Fact

Did you know that San Francisco has no cemeteries? In 1903 a city law passed stating there would be no people buried in the county of San Francisco. The dead had to be removed to other cemeteries outside the county and reburied. Next of kin were notified if they could be found; otherwise the dead were reburied in a mass grave in Colma Cemetery in San Mateo County just south of San Francisco County.

Queries

Looking for JUDSON, anytime, anywhere, but primarily w/roots to the JUDSONs of CT. Refer to the Judson Connection on the Web at http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/1926 /judson.html Linda Dolby at ljdolby@airmail.net

Capt. William Phillips: found his MA Infantry 4th Reg, 5th Brigade, 2nd Div
Militia Discharge Papers (Civil War) & deed to cem plot Lynn, MA among Dad's family papers but do not know who he is or how we relate.Linda Dolby at ljdolby@airmail.net

Wanted information on Silas and/or Charles (Cauis) MORIN (MORAIN/MORAN)
located in U.P. of MICHIGAN in 1860-1900 or anytime for pgmorin@mtu.edu.

Looking parents & siblings of Jessie James Poyner & twin Essie Mae (Jane) Poyner, his d. cert. says Nov. 12, 1887 Topeka, Shawnee Co, KS, Essie said in KY. They are 2 of 13 children born to John Poyner and Martha Scott.glpatter@galstar.com

I found reference to deed Essex County, (XXVI, p.166)Archibald Ritchie bought acres from James Griffing. Anyone have access to those deeds? I would appreciate a copy. Glad to reimburse for copying, time, and postage fees. Pat Griffin pjgwpg@aol.com

Seeking info Bo(u)ltinghouse/Boathouser/Boltenhouse. Believe Conrad & Eliz. came from Germany to Amwell, NJ & then moved to Ephrata, PA. They were associated with the Fahnestock family. Any info appreciated. Rosie Horn

Family names SWAIN, WOMBLE, BURDICK, PRICE, POWELL, all in South
Georgia, except Burdicks who came from RI to MACON, Ga. Please contact me
at cwynn@mindspring.com.

Researching Terry line. Isham Terry Civil War ancestor(Elm Spring Ar 1862 Company I). Looking for Henry, Jesse and Hannah Terry of the previous generations. Family migrated
in 1854 from NC to AR and eventually settled in St. Louis MO. philb6@juno.com

Seeking info on FOSTER family in 1880 Franklin Co., MS. Children were Fanny,
George, Joseph, Nan, Samuel, Vick, and Delton W (b. 1860 in Winnsboro, LA.)
Who were their parents? Where did they come from? E-mail WYL244@telapex.com

PARISH-TREVATHAN-MELTON seeking info on John G. Parish, born late 1700s in
Virginia, married to Eliza Trevathan. Their grandson, Robert Marsh Parish, married Clementine Melton, daughter of Perry Melton. decuir@writeme.com

Searching for ANY information on FRANCIS LITTLEFIELD b 1565 in Titchfield, Hampshire, UK, particularly something on his parents. Also who the Littlefield Coat of Arms was registered to in the UK. alittle@ilink.nis.za

I need help in finding information on Anthony Trapp, b. approx. 1822 in SC. Sorry, I do not know county or town. This is from Archi Trapp. E-mail address (jvigay@datasys.net)

James and Nancy (CROWLEY) MCMANUS lived in Huntingdon county, Quebec between circa 1830-1865. Children: James, Thomas, Hannah, Hugh, Rosy (possibly married an O'LEARY and immigrated to Ohio). Kathy at THowell582@AOL.com.

Surname: BOLTINGHOUSE\BOULTINGHOUSE\BOTENHAUS. Will answer all inquiries. Known to have been in NY, NJ, PA,Ohio, KY, ILL and IND. Need Father of Jonathan. Rosie Horn